Portable ironing machine



M. HEDGLON PORTABLE mourns MACHINE Filed Nov. 5,; 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sui 13,1927.

Iuly '19, 1927. 1,636,472

M. HEDGLON ,PORI'ABLE IRONiNG MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1926 Q sheqtks heet z Patented July 19, 1927.

- UNITED nannanonon, or estimates, mrw yoaxl ronranm moms Application filed November 3,1 926. Ser 1a1 Ho.146,044.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines of the type commonly used in the homes, and has for its object to provide a noveland simple machine, which is of light weight and readily portable by the operator, and is preferably driven and heated by electricity.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of the ironing shoe, which is preferably disposed horizontally, and is formed with an upwardly fac'in shallow longitudinal trough, in which a pa ded ironing roll rotates and produces the friction necessaryto efiect the ironing and smoothing of the articles as they are moved over a heated surface of the shoe. The ironing roll constitutes the, driven member of the machine, and is rotatable in a fixed horizontal plane, by an electric motor. The shoe is disposed directly beneath, and its trough is normally arranged substantially concentric, to the roll. A further object is to pro vide a simple means for'adjustably supporting the shoe, whereby the latter may be readilyand quickly moved into and out-of contact with the padded roll, whether or not the said roll is in motion. The forward side of the shoe is movable independently towards and away from the roll within a certain range, the said movement being controlled by an eccentric mechanism and suitable cushion means, in order to enable the operator to apply and adj st the articles. The tension means norma ly sustains the greater portion of the weight of the shoe, and may be adjusted for varying the ironing pressure. A particular object is to provide toggle means for pivotally supporting the rear portion of the shoe and for enabling the shoe to be moved bodily automatically in the direction and also in the counter direction of the travel of the articles, as well as to twist orrotate in a horizontal plane relatively to the axis of the roll, when inequalities in the thickness of the articles require such movements. The said toggle means cooperate with the eccentric mechanisms for enabling the shoe to gravitate from the roll with a rearwardly tilting motion for facilitating the recovering and adjustin of partially ironed and distorted artic es. The shoes pivotal supports are so disposed and coordinated that any inequalities of the ironing roll itself, as well as any variations in the thickness of the articles to be ironed, are taken care of in a manner to produce the class shown in my United States" Patent No.

1,560,990, dated November 10, 1925.

' I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figu plete machine. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same,'showing the toggle-links and the other parts in the ironing position.

Fig. 3 isa rear end elevation of the machine, the parts being shown in the ironing position. Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view Showing the shoe and roll separated for inserting, or adjusting the articles prior to, as well as during the ironing. And Fig. 6 is an enre 1 is a top plan view of the com- ,large'd detail view of theclutch that controls the ironing roll.

In the drawings, 2 represents a wooden or other base on which the combined ironing and driving mechanisms are rigidly mounted and rendered easily portableas one part. The ironing roll preferably consists of a heavily padded cylinder 3, which may be rotated by a motor 4, the said roll being mount ed in a fixed horizontal plane, by means of an upright ear-casing 5, and a goose-neck bracket 6. he roll 3 is providedv at its opposite ends with short aligning shaft sections '-3* that constitute the axis of the roll, thesaid sections being rigid with the roll.

The casing 5 incloses the usual reductionv gears, by which the power of the motor is transmitted to the roll 3. The gear-train comprises a worm 8, which is. driven by the motor by means of a clutch 8'. The worm 8 meshes and drives a relatively large gear 9, which is mounted on a shaft 9'. The shaft too 9' supports a pinion 9, which drives a larger spur gear 10, the latter gear being disposed concentric to the'axis of the roll 3. The gear 10 is preferably loosely mounted on the shaft 3', upon which it may idle when the roll is stationary. The 'gear 10 is driven constantly by the motor, and the roll 3 is driven during the ironingoperations by a clutch 12, which comprises the outer hub, 10'

of the gear 10, and the corresponding end of is operated. The full-and dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2, .3 and '4 show res'pectively'the driving and the released position of the clutch operating handle.

7 represents the concave ironing shoe, whose length is substantially equal to that of the roll 3. The shoe 7 is disposed beneath and normally projects beyond the front side of the roll. The trough 7 of the shoe is normally disposed concentric to the roll 3. The shoe is hollow and its interior is fitted with electrical heatingelements, as 7 of any suitable construction. shoe preferably normally terminates beneath -the roll, as shown in Figs. 1. and 3, instead of projecting beyond the roll, as shown in my former patent. The rear side of the shoe 7 is supported solely by similar links 7, the said membersbeing located near the opposite ends of the shoe, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The top ends of the links .7 are pivoted between lugs 7 which depend from the rear edge of the shoe, and the bottom N nds of said members are similarly pivoted between lugs 5 .and.6',: that may be integral t r the frame'members 5 and 6. The connections between the opposite ends of the links 7 and the several lugs are preferably somewhat loose in order to allow the ends of the shoe tomove horizontally in a twisting motion, independently offeach other during .the ironing, when hems, tucks, or similar inequalities' n the thickness of the articles require such movements. The forward edge of the shoe comprises a narrow lip 7 which projects beyond the roll and cooperates witha detachable. part 16, for forming a relatively broad table upon which the operator may spread the articles prior to feeding them between theroll and the shoe. .The table 16 is preferably spaced from the lip 7 in order to Prevent the tabl from becoming we hot.

A. shaft 17, passes lengthwise beneath the lip 7, its opposite ends being journaled in and -projecting beyond end portions 7' of the shoe,'and upon the said ends. are mounted :respectively, a crank 18, which is fitted with .rods 20 20", the sai wardlyffrom'the lobes and passing loosely through perforated-extensions 5-.-6 of the frame members. The rods 20 are similarly an operating lever '18, and a crank 19, as shown. The cranks 18 and 19 are formed with similar perforated lobes 18'19', which a're'engaged by the ugperdlsioofzfngs of ide r0 e 11 mg 0 The rear side of the threaded intermediate their ends,to receive adjusting nuts 21.-21', and between the nuts and the said extensions are disposed similar -coil compression springs 22 through which the rods pass. The springs 22 when compressed by the downward swinging of lever- 18 (see full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) tend to lift and holdthe shoe 7 resiliently in the ironing position. The springs 22 yield forwardly and backwardly as well as upwardly and downwardly corresponding to the floating and twisting movemnts of the shoe during the ironing operations. Fig. 5 shows the position of the lever 18 when the shoe is lowered away from the roll by gravity. The

perforations. in the lobes 18 and 19" .are so .for'varying the ironing pressure of the shoe against "the underside of the roll 3. The raising of the lever 18 also lifts the rods 20-20 and relieves the compression of the springs 22. This allows the shoe to gravitate away from the roll sufficiently to enable the operator to recover or adjust the articles in case they become distorted during the progress of the ironing. The shoe 7 may also be lowered for adjusting the articles in advance of the ironing. When the shoe 7 gravitates,

as described, the link members 7 effect the tilting or lowering of the rear side of the shoe to a greater extent than the forward side (see Fig. 5). This is very desirable,- because the relatively broad gap at the rear of the machine and the inclination of the shoe greatly facilitates the ready recovery of "articles,

that have been partially ironed without danger of straining, tearing or otherwise. injuring the fabric. While the shoe is in the lowered position, shown in Fig. v5, the

springs 22 still-sustain their shareof the weight of the shoe, and they are so arranged that the tend to limit the gravitative travel of the s 0e. The crank 18 is provided with a rearwardly facing-lug 18 which is ar- .ranged to engage a stud 7* carried by the shoe for arresting the releasing movement of the lever, as .bestseen in Fig, 4. The crank 19 is also arranged to engage a similar stop it 19 carried b the oppositeend of the shoe,

as shown in ig. 3. The electric current for the motor 4, as well as for the heatin ments 7 may be controlled by any sultable switch, as 23 (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 4) wherein ele-' is shown two switchlevers 23' and 23, which are set in the on position, and which respectively control the'driving and the heat-' ing of the ironingparts. Thearrows in Figs. 3, 4:- and 5 indicate the direction of rotation of the roll 3-. The forward edge of zone, to. instantly gravitate towards'the base 2 instead of being, required to travel upwardly and rearwardly and to push the previously ironed portions over a curved lip or margin similar to the lip 7, before startingthe descent towards the receiving table, as shown in my former patent. This narrowing of the shoe not only shortens the travel of the ironed articles toward the receiving table, but obviates all danger of the ironed portions of articles-being wrinkled and-distorted while being pushed or crowded over a relatively broad rear margin of the shoe,

' as explained. By narrowing the shoe, as

hereinshown,.the smooth condition of the ironed articles is preserved until the articles are finally laid away. This crimping'and distorting of the ironed articles by the ma-' chine of my former patent frequently necessitates reironing of the more delicate and light weight fabrics. This trouble and annoyance is entirely obviated by the arrangement of the present machine, which is capable of handling articles, that are extremely light and thin, and at the same time perform satisfactory ironing of articles that are relatively heavy and thick. In either case by narrowing the shoe and providing the relatively sharp edge :12, and the abrupt surfacew' .of the shoe below saidedge, as herein shown, enables me to-eflect the smoothing and ironing oflight as well as heavy fabrics by a single operation, without requiring re-ironmg of any of the articles, and without necasitating anty change, except a slight re-adustmento he tension of the ironing mechanlsm.

In Figs. 2,. 3, 4 and 5, the links 7 are shown formed with extensions 7, which are connected by tension springs 2 with lugs 2,

the s rings 2' exert a constant pull on the extensions 7 and tend to swing the links rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, whenever the tension of the springs 22 is relaxed for lowering the shoe. The springs 2' effect the positive disengagement of the margin :v of i the shoe, (see Fig. 5), .which without the said springs tends to retain its contact with the roll 3 when the shoe is released. The

power of the springs 2 is but a fraction of that of the springs 22, and the weaker springs are readily over p g r springs, when the hand-1ev 18 downwardly for efiectin the ironing prs- 7 sure of the shoe against 't e roll.

v Having thus described my mvention','what I claim, 'is

' 1. In a portable ironing machine, the combination with a' driven padded roll supported by spaced frame sections, of a heated trough-like shoe normally disposed horizontally beneath said roll, av pair of links for supporting the rear side of the shoe, said links being loosely pivoted to the shoe and to said frame sections for enabling the shoe to twist in a horizontal plane, compression springs resiliently supporting the forward side .of the shoe adapted to'control the pressure of the shoe against the underside of the roll, and eccentric means for swinging the shoe downwardly and rearwardly, and for locking the shoe'in the ironing position.

2. In a portable ironing machine, the combination with a drivenpadded roll supported by spaced frame sections, of a heated trough-like shoe disposed horizontally be neath said roll, the forward side of said shoe projecting beyond the roll, the rear side of said shoe terminating beneath the roll, a air of links supporting the rear side of the s oe,

and compression springs resiliently support-- ing the forward side of the shoe adapted to -effect variable ironing pressure'of the shoe against the underside of the roll. 1

3. In a portable ironing machine, .the combination with a driven press rollysupported by spaced frame sections and areceiving table below said roll, of a heated concave shoe disposed horizontally beneath the roll, the'forward side of the shoe being normally disposed in a higher plane than the bottom of the roll, the rear side of the shoe being disposed substantially in the same plane as the bottom of the roll and being formed =with a relatively'sharp. edge that enables the ironed article's to effect a sheerdescent towards the receivingtable, means for resiliently supportin the-shoe and for varying the pressure of t 0 shoe against the roll, and means for lowering the shoe for adjusting and recovering articles that are partially ironed. I

4. In a portable ironing machine, the combination with a driven padded roll supported by spaced frame sections, ofa'heated shoe having an upwardly facing concave in which the roll rotates, the forward side of the shoe being formed with a flared lip that projects beyond the roll,.the rear side of the. shoe being formed with a relatively sharp corner that is disposed beneath the roll, links supporting the rear side of the shoe, the

bottomends of said links being pivoted to the :frame sections, their top endsada'pted to swing forwardly and backwardiy-when ill the shoe is raised and lowered relatively to the roll, tension means for resiliently supf porting the forward side of the shoe in the ceiving table dis iron ng as well asin the released position,- and eccentnc mechamsms for raising and lowering the shoe and for locking the shoe in the ironing position.

5. Im a portable ironing machine, the

combina ion with a driven press roll supported b spaced frame sections and'a resed below the roll, of a heated concave s oedisposed horizontally beneath the roll, the forward side of the shoe being disposed normally in a higher plane than thebottom surface of the roll, the rear side of said shoe being disposed substantially. in theplane of said bottom surface and terminating in a relatively sharp edge that enables the ironed articles to effect a sheer descent towards the receiving table for preventing crimping and distortlng of the articles, links for supporting the rear side of said shoe, said links ada ted to swing in planes at right angles to t c. axis of the roll during the lowering and raising of the shoe, tension means for resiliently supporting'the forward side of the shoe in the ironing as well as in the released position, and eccentric mechanisms adapted to control the swinging of said links.

6. In aportable ironing machine, the con}- bination with a driven padded ironing rol of a concave shoe disposed beneath said roll, the concave su'rface of the shoe conforming to the curvature of the roll andadapted to be heated during the ironing operations, the forward side of the shoe com risinga flaring lip that projects beyond t e roll, an eecentric mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of the shoe, sprin for resiliently supporting the forward side of formed'with a relatively sharp'edge over .WlHClI. thej ironed articles travel immediately I position of the shoe;

7. Ina portable ironing machine, the combinatlon' with a driven roll supported by spaced frame. sections and a receiving table disposed below the-roll, of a heated concave. shoe, normally disposed horizontally beneath' the roll, the forward side of the-shoe proectmg beyond the rol1,the rear sideof the shoe terminating beneaththe roll and being they emerge from the ironin zone and from ffro which the articles efiect a eerldwnt to;

wards the receiving table, links pivoted to and supporting the rear side of the shoe adaptedto'swin'g the said side downwardly for facilitating the recovery and adjustment of partially ironed articles, and tension means supporting the forward side of the shoe adaptedto provide variable ironing pressure as well as to resiliently support the said side in the ironing and released positions.

8. In a portable ironing machine, the combination with a driven padded ironing roll,

of a heated concave shoe disposed beneath said roll, the concave surface of the shoe adaptedto be heated during the ironing operations, the forward side of the shoe comprising a flarin lip that projects beyond the roll, a she t extending longitudinally beneath said lip, an eccentric mechanism mounted on said shaft for controlling the raising and lowering-of the shoe, springs for resiliently supporting the forward side of the shoe, said springs being .oper'atively connected with said eccentric mechanism, link means for supporting therearside of the shoe adapted to inclineithe shoe when the latter is lowered by the eccentric mechanism, the rear side of the shoe terminating beneath the roll and being formed with a relatively sharp edge over which the ironed articles travel, and from which the said articles gravitate in a path perpendicular to the plane of the said roll.

9. In a portable ironing machine, a concave heated shoe, a driven press roll disposed in the concave of the shoe, eccentric mech-- anisms for moving the shoe towards and away from the roll, springs for resiliently supporting thev shoe adapted to be compressed by-the eccentric mechanisms for effecting the irom'ng pressure, means. for adjusting said springs\for var-yin the ironing pressure, the forward side 0 said shoe projecting beyond the roll for facilitating feeding the unironed articles between the roll and the shoe, the rear side of saidshoe being disposed beneath the roll for facili-- tating the sheer descentof the ironed articles as they emerge from the ironing zone, 4

and a pair of links supporting 'the'rear side of the shoe and cooperating with the springs for effecting the ironing pressure.

10. In a portable ironing machine, the

combination with a driven padded press roll operations, the rear side of the shoe terminating beneath the roll, and being ed extending the length of the roll for ena ling the ironedwith a relatively sharp ed and a receiving table disposed below the roll, of a heated concave shoe disposed horizontally beneath the roll-during the ironing.

articles to effect a sheer dIOPfiOWfiIdS IIIQ'Q;

receiving table for preventing crimping and distorting of the articles after they emerge m the 1roning' zone,-means for movin the shoe towards and'away fromjthle r9 and link members for supporting the rear side of the shoe, said members being loosely pivoted for enabling the shoe to twist in a horizontal plane relatively to the roll.

11. In a portable ironing machine, the combination with a driven press roll sup-. ported by spaced frame sections, of a heated trough-like shoe disposed horizontallybeneath the roll, tension means for pressing the forward side of the shoe against the roll during the ironing operation, links pivoted to the frame sections adapted to press and hold the rear side of the shoe against the roll, springs for swinging said links rearwardly for lowering the rear side of the shoe, and eccentric means carried by theiorward side of the shoe adapted to cooperate with the links for raisingand lowering the shoe.

12. In a portable ironing machine, the

to the frame sections and to the rear margin.

of the ,shoe adapted to efiect the raising and lowering of said margin, resilient means for supporting the forward side of the shoe and for varying the ironingpressure, springs'ior swinging the links away from the roll when the tension at'the forward side of the shoe is relaxed, and eccentric means for controlling the lowering and raising of the shoe and for locking the shoein therraised position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I

MEAD HEDGLON. 

